VW Golf GTI and GTD: Car Tech Video

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Car Tech Video: VW Golf GTI and GTD

2:08 /
March 6, 2013

At the 2013 Geneva Auto Show, Volkswagen gaves us a look at not one but two models of their popular Golf vehicles, the GTI and the GTD. CNET's Wayne Cunningham breaks them down and tells us what's so hot about them.

-Last year at the Paris Auto Show, Volkswagen showed the all new Golf.
That's their Hatchback compact car.
This year in Geneva, we've got the GTI version.
Now, as usual with the GTI, the performance version of the Golf, we have a 2-liter turbocharged engine, but this year, they've actually increased the power.
This has 217 horsepower and 258 pound feet of torque.
That's good for 6.5 seconds to 62 miles an hour, but now VW's is also gonna offer a performance version that raises the horsepower by 10.
227 horsepower, although it still has the same 258 pound feet of torque.
That's 6.4 secs to 62 miles per hour.
The GTI can be had with a 6-speed manual standard or their 6-speed DSG, the dual-clutch automated manual.
VW also made some changes to the steering system.
They're using this progressive electric power steering system, which will actually change the steering ratio depending on how fast you're going.
Now, that's the new GTI, but we also have the new GTD.
That's over here.
This is the diesel version of the GTI.
Volkswagen has had this car around for a while, but only in Europe.
There's a chance they're gonna bring it to the U.S. Now, with the GTD, we have a 2-liter turbocharged diesel engine.
That does 182 horsepower and 280 pound feet of torque.
That's a pretty typical difference between a diesel engine and a gasoline engine.
Here, we have a lot more torque, a little less horsepower, but also less acceleration with this as well, 7.5 seconds to 62 miles an hour, but the top size is 56 miles per gallon.
The GTD has the same transmission options as the GTI and the same steering system.
That's a progressive ratio electronic power system.
Now, we don't know if Volkswagen is gonna bring the GTD to the U.S. yet, but there's a chance this year that they might.
I'm Wayne Cunningham here at the 2013 Geneva Auto Show.